finish on 8th century wooden items
Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 4:53 pm
I have been working on a Lyre for quite some time. I am about to finish some decorative carving, and I want to put a finish on it.
I am really considering a modern nitrocellulous finish (like a modern guitar) because it's really tough. I have put a lot of durned time into the carving (I had to learn to carve wood) and I don't want peices breaking off. I also like the look of it. I guess it's just my modern sensibilities. If I do that, I will do it by going to an instrument maker that already has the spray booth and pay him (or her) to do it. I am also sick of this project. I am making a Lyre to play, for myself, and I expect to be playing it for quite a while, but damn, I am sick of working on this. A long period of work will just make me scream.
I don't know anything about wood finishes in the eighth century.
I can document linen (and thus flax production) in the 8th century, but I have been unhappy with linseed oil finishes in the past. I am pretty sure that honey was produced in the eigth century, so wax would also be useable.
Does anybody know anything about wood finishes in the eighth century, especially in the British Isles? I can document the carving, and I can document the shape, and I can document just about everything else I have done on this durned thing, but I know nothing about wood finishes in Eighth Century England.
thanks
f
I am really considering a modern nitrocellulous finish (like a modern guitar) because it's really tough. I have put a lot of durned time into the carving (I had to learn to carve wood) and I don't want peices breaking off. I also like the look of it. I guess it's just my modern sensibilities. If I do that, I will do it by going to an instrument maker that already has the spray booth and pay him (or her) to do it. I am also sick of this project. I am making a Lyre to play, for myself, and I expect to be playing it for quite a while, but damn, I am sick of working on this. A long period of work will just make me scream.
I don't know anything about wood finishes in the eighth century.
I can document linen (and thus flax production) in the 8th century, but I have been unhappy with linseed oil finishes in the past. I am pretty sure that honey was produced in the eigth century, so wax would also be useable.
Does anybody know anything about wood finishes in the eighth century, especially in the British Isles? I can document the carving, and I can document the shape, and I can document just about everything else I have done on this durned thing, but I know nothing about wood finishes in Eighth Century England.
thanks
f